The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-12
THE hxrr.porERrF SOCIETY.
Rnrussvninr "a KIN Rnts-A Now Heiinion
That Teaches Had 1ernis.

We have recently heard a grdat deal about
Gal!lcc and tho Pope. Nhosctof DR.. Mcdlynn
rises 10 explain, we may oGpcot to have rc-
called tho historical controversy between
Urban VIII. and tho Inau!sition on tho one
side. and tho great astronomer. who prac-
.ically invented tho telescope and OBJ
tsined tho FIRST look ut q magnifed star.
on the other But the resemblance be-
tween tho man OF science OF tho ronascent
portod and the modern reformor Is not easily
traced. Calico was student in b fold Of re-
search as occult In his day aud generation
ns tho mysteries o, alchemy. Three hun
dred years ngo the Astronomical systems Of
Egypt and Greece. md that formulated by
Copernicus. struggled for supremacy. They
wore complicated and contradictory systoms.
II wes contrary to ocular demonstra-
ton 10 aay TINT tho enrth moved and
tho sun stood still: and as nothing had bcen
definitely proven, the Pope would have been
entirely pardonab!e. whom Calico entored the
field, had no amplified tho ejaculation Of
Mcrcutio and exclaimed: "A plague on ell
your notions: Moses was good enough as
tronomer for me-" But tho situation here is
different The high priest OF the Anti-Pov-
crty Society is only q speculAtor in tho COM
monplace domains Of sociology. political econ
omy and morale and the latter dhy Pope, who
would hardly have succeeded to his present
exalted place without pretty good head Of his
own, might be supposed to understand either
Of these subjects quito ae we'll as our unframed
enthusiast. oven wore he standing alone. But
no is not alone. Hc r. surrounded by n Con-
sistory Of learned Cardinals, who are capable
Of giving him economic and moral points, and
this adds to his advantages In q controversy
with Dr. McGlynn. At ell events tho Doctor
would do we'll to fl1 his eyes on the hosts Of
interlopers whom tho Popss have suppressed
during tho past fifteen hundrsd years. and not
on tho exceptional examples Of men who have
suppressed the Pcpes.
But let that pass David, IL Is we'll known.
slew Goliath with a stone launched from a
simple sling. The man who appeals to the
emotions OF men Is often a more formidable
competitor for short rice than the man who
addresses himself to their judgment. We must
not. therefore, underrate the possibilities OF
DR.. McGlynn's career az an a.itator. 1t Is GER
toin that he possesses the enthusiasm Of Peter
tho Hermit. and no is very ambitious to Gary
the cross OF the new crusade He. may accom-
plish wonders. Like his prototype OF the dark
ages. he may set continent in q blaze. But
tho unbclievers are many and II the battle be
left to the Doctors own direction. his work will
end as the work Of Peter the Hermit ended.
Jerusalem is still in tho hands Of the infldel.
1t Is curious that DR.. McGlynn proposes to
begin the abolition Of povetty by the abolition
Of one-half the property In the world. This Ii
very odd proposition to say the least. odd to
the extreme limits that can be permitted to CO.
centricity But It is what the members OF the
Land and Labor party mean II they mean any
thing True. when logically considered. unim-
proved land. or land from which no income can
be drawn. is not property. Like acharter from
the State given to railroad company. bridge
company. or q manufacturing company. 1t Is
only franchise from which property may be
created. Cnless 1t be o sandhill. to be used for
railroad filing. q man never buys land. He
buys only the right to defined Mot or parcel
which he can neither annlhilate nor carry
of. But land franchise favorably To-
Gated, even II unimproved. fs also like
n charter In the fact that 1t may be bought and
sold on the market. thereby meeting the first
condition covered by an economic conception
OF property. This being true. Il offers always
tho first stepping stone In the cteation OF val
uos. To increase the worth Of the franchise Is
the nrst thought of tho holder and It is the
foundation upon which the whole superstruc-
turs OF wealth is erected. Yet here is man.
or two men. counting Henry George as pas
senger over the Bridge Of Signs. with follow
ing Of an unknown numerical potency, pro-
posing to knock away this foundation as a first
stop toward the creation OF wealth and the
abolition OF poverty. 1t is an odd proposition
indeed. 1t seems incomprehensibly foolish.
Let us see IL q little Investigation will not
enable US to estimate approximately the influ-
ence of these land franchises on social and
material progress. We will begin with great
things because they arc the most comprehen-
sive. A fow years ago. 50 few that DR.. McGlynn
can remember the time very well. and still have
good many years Of recollection to spare all
the land franchises between the western
boundary OF Kansas and the eastern boundary
Of the Pacific States, were nationalized. or
vested In Congress. Now. will any one assume
tina. II they were still vested in that body. We
would havo seen four transcontinental
railroads? VIII any one assume that
we would have seen even one such
road? Certainly no man viii be found
who would be guilty Of any such assumption.
II Is probable that not less than $4,000 miles Of
the new railway mileag, Of the country cover
ing tho surface which was recently or Is still in
territorial condition. are directresult OF the
transfer OF land franchises from Congress to
the people. and the construction OF those
roads has added several new States to the
Union. and covered o vast territory with thriv-
ing cities. villages. and farms. Indeed. our en-
tire territorial domain. rs direct conse-
QueDc0 VI Sulb ID oiLuoSs SCouy W 10
erected into States Does not this furnish o
good Illustration OF the benefits that can DO
made to follow the Standardization OF land
But tho West only furnishes tho moro signal
example. The rule 10 everywhere the same.
Pho enhancement OF land values forms the
chief stimulus to railway construction, and
this motive withdrawn. We should SEQ an end
OF now railways. Even In the cities the i'm
pulse to now enterprises In railway construc-
ton is more frequently given by desire to in
crease land values than by any hope OF profit
from the transportation OF passengers. There
is hardly surface road In New York running
north and south that did not owe its inception
to this motive: and at tho north end the Same
spirit Is still at work forcing transit facilities
beyond the line of dense population.
But We need not stop with illustrations drawn
from the railways. II you look closely you
find that industry In almost all its more vigor-
Gus departments derives it's chief stimulus
from It's relation to land values. From super
lcial Wow this may not seem to be true. and